[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 131 (Friday, October 1, 1999)]
[House]
[Page H9238]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                            WORLD SMILE DAY

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. McGovern) is recognized for 5 
minutes.
  Mr. McGOVERN. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to recognize one of 
Worcester, Massachusetts' favorite sons, Mr. Harvey Ball, on the 
occasion of the first annual World Smile Day.
  Born and raised in Worcester, Mr. Ball worked as a free-lance 
commercial artist. He first designed the yellow smiley face in December 
of 1963 as part of a campaign to enhance morale in his workplace. Since 
then, the smiley face has taken on a life of its own, developing into 
an international symbol of friendship, love and peace.
  In the early 1970s, the smiley face image became a symbol for an 
entire generation of Americans, emerging as one of the most well-known 
images in the country. Recently, the smiley face was chosen to 
represent the 1970s as a part of the Celebrate the Century 
commemorative stamp program.
  This morning, the United States Postal Service unveiled the smiley 
face stamp in Worcester, Massachusetts. The stamp will be officially 
issued this November.
  Mr. Speaker, there are few symbols which so fully represent the 
American spirit of friendship, happiness and peace as the smiley face. 
It is therefore my great pleasure to congratulate my friend Mr. Harvey 
Ball, and the entire Worcester community, on the occasion of World 
Smile Day.

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